List of rackets that can be capped/ capping guide

I think it's about time to make a definitive list of rackets that can use the Head Prestige CAP grommets, because there are tons of threads that tell what can be capped but no thread that has a list of all the rackets that can use the grommets. (i'll get some pics later)

so to start off what are cap grommets?

They are the bumper guard used in the Head Prestige Line of rackets
they aid in full racket head protection, they do add a little bit more weight to the racket head as opposed to regular grommets.

How do you install cap grommets?

Materials:
CAP grommets
Awl
Heat gun/blow dryer/ hot water (optional)
*you can use a heat gun/blow dryer or hot water to somewhat ease the process by making the grommets more soft and flexible

Here are 2 ways to install caps:

Capping version 1. To install CAPs start at the shoulder. 5T and 6T grommets are the longest and will need to be inserted FIRST. CAPs will finish easily at the 12 o'clock. I also recommend that you use Scotch tape to tape down the CAPs to the frame as you move upward. This method will keep the CAPs from popping back out as you seat more and more grommets into the holes.
*kudos to psp2 for this

Capping version 2. So heat up a cap strip (optional) and start from the top (12 o clock position) and push the grommets through the grommet holes, use the awl to help push them into place, just do this until you get all of the grommets in the holes, if you need to use some kind of easy to remove tape at the top after you get the first grommets in so that they stay in place better

Which rackets can be capped?

well there are few rackets that can use the prestige cap grommets, they are mainly in the Head radical series

this is the list of Midplus rackets that can use the midplus prestige grommets, you can use either the liquidmetal, microgel, i.prestige, or flexpoint prestige MP grommets, i find that the i.prestige grommets are the hardest to install, the other ones are pretty simple though

List of mid rackets that can use prestige mid grommets
Head Graphite professional
Spalding atp tour stock 200
Head Elite Pro
Head Elektra Pro
Head Tour 600
Head Club Pro
Head Magnum Pro
Head Comp Pro
Head Team Pro
Head tour 600

Other: (use Head Prestige Team series Grommets)
Head Trisys 270
Head Ti.classic
Head Pro lite tour

FOR ANYONE INTERESTED:
you can use the new teflon grommets from the youtek radical series and stick them in the older versions of the radicals

there are probably other rackets that i don't know of so please inform if i missed something
NOTE: The T-fight cannot be capped without adjustment to the caps, thank you to Gimmick experimenting for us

I think it's about time to make a definitive list of rackets that can use the Head Prestige CAP grommets, because there are tons of threads that tell what can be capped but no thread that has a list of all the rackets that can use the grommets. (i'll get some pics later)

so to start off what are cap grommets?
They are the bumper guard used in the Head Prestige Line of rackets
they aid in full racket head protection, they do add a little bit more weight to the racket head as opposed to regular grommets.

How do you install cap grommets?
First off you'll need to buy the grommets, you ll need a heat gun/blow dryer or hot water, and an awl would be very helpful
so heat up a cap strip and start from the top and push the grommets through the grommet holes, you ll need the heat to make it more flexible, and the awl will help to push them into place, just do this until you get all of the grommets in the holes

Which rackets can be capped?
well there are few rackets that can use the prestige cap grommets, they are mainly in the Head radical series

this is the list of Midplus rackets that can use the midplus prestige grommets, you can use either the liquidmetal, microgel, i.prestige, or flexpoint prestige MP grommets, i find that the i.prestige grommets are the hardest to install, the other ones are pretty simple though

List of mid rackets that can use prestige mid grommets
Head Graphite professional
Spalding atp tour stock 200

Other:
Head Trisys 270 (uses the head flexpoint prestige team grommets)

there are probably other rackets that i don't know of so please inform if i missed something

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Most of the early Head 'Pro' 600 racquets can be CAPped (Elite Pro, Elektra Pro, Tour 600, Club Pro, Magnum Pro, etc.). The power wedge/double power wedge racquets (produced in the mid 90's), won't accept CAP grommets... which is unfortunate, since many were sold with those crap*y brittle white grommets.

head classic tour 660, i guess could be capped with original prestige 660 or MG Prestige team grommets (or Prestige fxp team???)

plus, you mentioned all the MP's but are not the mid's too?

ps: just remembered the TI.Pro Tour... its the same mould than the pro tour (just made of crappy ti.stuff)

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yeah there are some more midplus ones too, i havnet worked up a full ist because head made a bunch of rackets for europe that use cap grommets and i'm having a hard time find those out
i know there is the head tour lite, head tour extra long, and the other one, it was a white racket

I think it's about time to make a definitive list of rackets that can use the Head Prestige CAP grommets, because there are tons of threads that tell what can be capped but no thread that has a list of all the rackets that can use the grommets. (i'll get some pics later)

so to start off what are cap grommets?
They are the bumper guard used in the Head Prestige Line of rackets
they aid in full racket head protection, they do add a little bit more weight to the racket head as opposed to regular grommets.

How do you install cap grommets?First off you'll need to buy the grommets, you ll need a heat gun/blow dryer or hot water, and an awl would be very helpful
so heat up a cap strip and start from the top and push the grommets through the grommet holes, you ll need the heat to make it more flexible, and the awl will help to push them into place, just do this until you get all of the grommets in the holes

Which rackets can be capped?
well there are few rackets that can use the prestige cap grommets, they are mainly in the Head radical series

this is the list of Midplus rackets that can use the midplus prestige grommets, you can use either the liquidmetal, microgel, i.prestige, or flexpoint prestige MP grommets, i find that the i.prestige grommets are the hardest to install, the other ones are pretty simple though

Click to expand...

Your contribution to this topic is appreciated, but I must disagree with the bolded portion above.

First, a heat gun is not necessary. CAP grommets can be installed with bare hands and an awl. If you have a heat gun, then it will HELP, but it's not a necessity.

I highly advise anyone trying to install CAPs start at the shoulder. 5T and 6T grommets are the longest and will need to be inserted FIRST. CAPs will finish easily at the 12 o'clock.

I also recommend that you use Scotch tape to tape down the CAPs to the frame as you move upward. This method will keep the CAPs from popping back out as you seat more and more grommets into the holes.

Thanks to the OP for this thread, it is much needed, as the number of grommets and rackets available for capping is large.

I don't plan on capping a racket anytime soon, but I have capped one of my volkl's in the past. It was an interesting experiment.

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how well did it work?

and to psp2:
i just find it easier to put in the caps when the grommets are flexier
i've never tried installing not at the 12 o clock i'll try it on my next racket and see how much easier it is
i will say the bad thing about the heat gun/blow dryer, i've burnt my fingers a few times so i started wearing socks on my hands, yes i know it look ridiculous, but i pretend that i'm having asock puppet party

Most of the early Head 'Pro' 600 racquets can be CAPped (Elite Pro, Elektra Pro, Tour 600, Club Pro, Magnum Pro, etc.). The power wedge/double power wedge racquets (produced in the mid 90's), won't accept CAP grommets... which is unfortunate, since many were sold with those crap*y brittle white grommets.

this is the list of Midplus rackets that can use the midplus prestige grommets, you can use either the liquidmetal, microgel, i.prestige, or flexpoint prestige MP grommets, i find that the i.prestige grommets are the hardest to install, the other ones are pretty simple though

List of mid rackets that can use prestige mid grommets
Head Graphite professional
Spalding atp tour stock 200
Head Elite Pro
Head Elektra Pro
Head Tour 600
Head Club Pro
Head Magnum Pro
Head Comp Pro
Head Team Pro
Head tour 600

LM and FP Radical MP is not able to be capped, the ridges bump out at 4 and 8

Definately not LM, FP, MG grommet can cap

Maybe I-Prestige grommet can cap, since the cap end at 4 and 8, haven't try it though

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i'm not really sure what you're trying to say, but i think you're saying that the LM and FXP radical MP can't be capped

i have 6 liquidmetal radicals 4 of them are capped with microgel grommets and one of them is capped with i.prestige grommets
and i have 2 flexpoint radicals one of them is capped with fxp pretige grommets

i'm not really sure what you're trying to say, but i think you're saying that the LM and FXP radical MP can't be capped

i have 6 liquidmetal radicals 4 of them are capped with microgel grommets and one of them is capped with i.prestige grommets
and i have 2 flexpoint radicals one of them is capped with fxp pretige grommets

here is a pic of an uncapped and a capped liquidmetal radical, you can see that the grommets end in relatively the same place, the microgel grommets are just a few millimeters longer (yes millimeters)

here is a pic of the grommet strips ending for i.prestige grommets, FXP prestige grommets (the non shiny orange one), and microgel grommets, the i.prestige and microgel grommets are both on liquidmetal radicals, and the FXP prestige grommets are on a FXP radical

here is a pic of the sides of the rackets, note they are not all lined up

here is a pic of an uncapped and a capped liquidmetal radical, you can see that the grommets end in relatively the same place, the microgel grommets are just a few millimeters longer (yes millimeters)

here is a pic of the grommet strips ending for i.prestige grommets, FXP prestige grommets (the non shiny orange one), and microgel grommets, the i.prestige and microgel grommets are both on liquidmetal radicals, and the FXP prestige grommets are on a FXP radical

here is a pic of the sides of the rackets, note they are not all lined up

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thanks for the pic, dantespark33!

so does the cap leave the gap between the plastic and the orange edge? or it'll merge onto the edge and form the ridge on the gap grommet itself?

here is a pic of an uncapped and a capped liquidmetal radical, you can see that the grommets end in relatively the same place, the microgel grommets are just a few millimeters longer (yes millimeters)

here is a pic of the grommet strips ending for i.prestige grommets, FXP prestige grommets (the non shiny orange one), and microgel grommets, the i.prestige and microgel grommets are both on liquidmetal radicals, and the FXP prestige grommets are on a FXP radical

here is a pic of the sides of the rackets, note they are not all lined up

Click to expand...

in your opinion, which one is a better fit for the LM Radical? LM Prestige MP grommet or MG Prestige MP Grommet?

they pretty much just merge, there isn't really a gap i tried to stick my fingernail under the grommets, and i couldnt get it under, so it is pretty much merged

the liquidmetal and microgel grommets are pretty much the same thing, the only difference i can think of right now is a possible few grams of difference in weight, but i stick with the microgel because that is what is on most of the rackets

I capped a Tfight 325. It looked so much like a prestige I thought for sure it was identical. It turns out its close but not identical. The Tfight has a section of special grommets near the sweet spot that are a little smaller and require some reaming and grommet sanding to fit properly. I still thought they were the same, then I got to the top and between 6H and 7H there was a larger gap that could not be spanned without cutting the caps to allow an extra 1/8" of space. There's also a problem of the tie-off holes not being the same so the string pattern has to accomodate an adjusted tie-off. It took me about 3-4 hours to make them fit and string it. In the end I wonderered why in the world I had wasted my time, other than to have the pivilage of writing this paragraph.

I capped a Tfight 325. It looked so much like a prestige I thought for sure it was identical. It turns out its close but not identical. The Tfight has a section of special grommets near the sweet spot that are a little smaller and require some reaming and grommet sanding to fit properly. I still thought they were the same, then I got to the top and between 6H and 7H there was a larger gap that could not be spanned without cutting the caps to allow an extra 1/8" of space. There's also a problem of the tie-off holes not being the same so the string pattern has to accomodate an adjusted tie-off. It took me about 3-4 hours to make them fit and string it. In the end I wonderered why in the world I had wasted my time, other than to have the pivilage of writing this paragraph.

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This just shows the spirit of many of users here on this forum. Once one started then a whole group following.

I still do not think CAP-ing all the rackets is the way to go. You gonna consider the weight balance and CAP-ing has to be done on a racket to racket basis.

After saying this, I still yet to see if anyone could CAP the Red Star. LOL Any CAP experts has done that?

I capped a Tfight 325. It looked so much like a prestige I thought for sure it was identical. It turns out its close but not identical. The Tfight has a section of special grommets near the sweet spot that are a little smaller and require some reaming and grommet sanding to fit properly. I still thought they were the same, then I got to the top and between 6H and 7H there was a larger gap that could not be spanned without cutting the caps to allow an extra 1/8" of space. There's also a problem of the tie-off holes not being the same so the string pattern has to accomodate an adjusted tie-off. It took me about 3-4 hours to make them fit and string it. In the end I wonderered why in the world I had wasted my time, other than to have the pivilage of writing this paragraph.

I want to cap my LM Rad MP and add a leather grip. Do you think the balance will even out close to stock? Is TW the best place for the grommet? I just need to order the MG Prestige MP Grommet. Is it fairly easy to install. Does it need any modifications? Thanks.

Not yet, I'm waiting for the inevitable poster who says it can't be done and I'm making it up. Then I might have to post pics. Until then the time dial-up takes to upload will be motivation enough to refrain.

I want to cap my LM Rad MP and add a leather grip. Do you think the balance will even out close to stock? Is TW the best place for the grommet? I just need to order the MG Prestige MP Grommet. Is it fairly easy to install. Does it need any modifications? Thanks.

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no modification needed
i have that exact set up on 4 LM radicals they play fine
and it is pretty easy to install with an awl and it is flexible from heating

The iprestige grommets are not CAP'ed all the way, the bottem grommets are accessible. Does that make them any easier to string? Is there any difference in material in comparison with the original PC 600 grommets. BTW does anyone know where to get the original brownish grommets?